Control apparatus



Aug. 5, 1924. 1,503,718

W. H. SMITH CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19. 1921 2.Sheets-Shee. l

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xNvENToR Y ATTORNEYA Aug. `5 1924. l .1,503,718

w. H. SMITH CONTROL APPAATUS l l lATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 19E-fi.

Application filed February To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, WALTER HERBERT SMITH, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident ot Vilkinsburg, in the county o' Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful improvement in Control Apparatus, ot which the 'following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and particularly to apparatus employed in connection with the control of electric railway motors and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide a relay to be remotely controlled 'for governing the acceleration of a motor independently ot' 'the usual current-limiting device.

My invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a View of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view partially in elevation and partially in section, of a relay constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a front view ot' the armature actuated by one ot the relay magnets.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view ot circuits and apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a sequence chart indicating the order ot closure ot the various contactors.

Referring to Figures .1 and 2, a relay 1 is provided with a member 2 which is pivotally mounted upon a trame 8 and is biased by a spring 4 in such 'manner as to be normally disengaged 'from a magnet 5. Contact members 6 and 7 are mounted on opposite .ends of member 2. The contact member 6 coacts with a stationary contact member 8 in the normal or biased position of member 2. An armature member 9, pivotally mounted upon the 'trame 3, carries a contact member 11 and is controlled by a magnet 12. The magnetizing torce of the magnet 12 is applied through a core member 18 that extends vdiagonally toward the armature member 9. The magnetizing force of the magnet 5 is applied through a core member 14 'tom an armature 15 of substantially L-shape that is secured to the member 2.

A current-limiting relay of' well-known type, having a coil 15, plunger 17, and contact members 18 and 19, for convenience, is mounted above thc previously described relay structure and is, in part, supported thereby.

The operation of the relay may be set t'orth as follows:

The energization of magnet 12 act-uates armature 9 upwardly and eti'ects the engagement of contact members 7 and 11. The energization of magnet 5 attracts the armature 15, carrying with it member 2 and eftecting the disengagement oit contact members 6 and S. Contact members 7 and 11, and contact members G and 8 are disengaged simultaneously by the movement ot' the pivotally mounted member 2, the Contact member 7 moving inwardly out ot the path of movement ot the contact member 11, as will be readily understood. The contact member 11 engages the inclined surface ot the adjacent end ot the member 2.

Assuming that magnet 5 is thereafter demagnetized, the member 2, which tends to restore the engagement of contact members 6 and 8, is restrained so long as magnet 5 remains energized, and contact member 11 yieldingly engages member 2, restraining the latter trom resuming its normal position.

When magnet 12 is cle-energized, the several Contact members resume their respective normal positions in which they are illustrated. f

Referring to Fig. et, the application oit my invention will be described in connection with a system ot railway control. A motor 21 is connected in circuit with" a starting resistor 22 and, through a line contacter 23, to positive line conductor 24. The motor is connected to ground through a conductor 25 and the actuating coil 16 oit a current-limiting relay 26.

A well-known type ont master controller 27 is employed to establish a circuit for the line contactor 23, and other circuits are completed by a sequence controller 28.

The sequence controller 28 is actuated, in a well-known manner, by an electricallycontrolled pneumatically-operated mechanism having magnetically-controlled operating valves which are actuated by the coils .On and Oft 1n the initial position ot the sequence controller, the On and Ott coils are cle-energized. The concurrent energization ot both coils actuates the drum members ot the controller to the lett. Deenergization ot the Otl' coil arrests the progress ot the sequence drum, and deenergization ot both On7 and Oli coils causes the drum to be returned to its normal or initial position.

A push-button switch 29, in conjunction with the sequence controller, controls the magnets t'or operating the relay 1.

Assuming that the various parts ol the apparatus occupy the positions illustrated in F ig. 4, the operation ot the system will be set forth as follows:

Upon the movement of the master controller 27 to its lirst operative position 14, a circuit which is established Yfor the coil 31 of the line contactor 23, extends from positive conductor 32, through contact members 33, 34 and 35, conductors 36 and 37, coil 31, conductor 38, and Contact members 39, 46 and 41 to negative conductor 42. The line contactor 23 closes to complete a main motorcircuit extending from line conductor 24, through contactor 23, resistor 22, motor 21, conductor 25 and coil 16, to ground. An interlock connected to line contacter 23 completes a circuit which extends from positive conductor through contact members 33, 34 and 35, conductor 36, conductor 44, the On coil, conductor 45, interlock 43, conductor 38 and contact members 39, 41 and 42 to negative conductor 43. It the Off coil remains cle-energized, there is no movement ot' the sequence controller.

The actuation ot master controller 27 to its second operative position B7 establishes a circuit for the Otl7 coil extending from positive conductor 32 through contact members 33, 34 and 46, conductor 47, contact members 43, 49 and 51, conductor 52, contact members 8 and 6, conductor 53, relay 2t', conductor 54, the Ott coil, conductor 55, interlock 50, conductor 3S and contact members 39, 40 and 41, to negative conductor 42.

The sequence drum is actuated to the lett, progressively energizing the coils ol accelerating contactors 56, 57 and 53, in a tamiliar manner, to shunt resistor 22 and accelerate the motor 2l.

In the acceleration ot' the motor under load, as, for example, in the case ot' a railway7 car starting up a heavy grade, il the load current is sutliciently high to actuate relay 26, the circuit for the Oil coil, as traced, will be interrupted and the progression ot the sequence drum arrested. The operator may advance the sequence drum one step by actuating push-button switch 29, establishing a circuit for the coil 59 of relay magnet 12, extending from positive conductor 32, through push button 29, conductor 61, coil 59, conductor 62, conductor 38, and

contact members 39, 46 and 41, to negative conductor 42. Contactl member 11 is actuated to engage contact member 7. A circuit is established tor the Olli coil ot the sequence controller, extending it'rom positive conductor 32, through contact members 33, 34 and 46, conductor 47, contact members 48, 49 and 51, conductor 52, contact members 8, 6, 7 and 11, conductors 63 and 54, the Otl coil, conductor 55, interlock 50, conductor 38 and contact members 39, 40 and 41, to negative conductor 42.

r-rssuming that the progress oi the sequence drum was arrested in position b and, since it has been continued by the actuation ot push button switch 29, contact member 64 engages contact members 65 and 66 in the intermediate position between positions Z) and c. A circuit is now established from positive conductor 32, contact members 33, 34 and 35, conductor 36, contact members 66, 64 and 65, conductor 67, conductor 68, coil 69 et magnet 5, conductors 62 and 38, and contact members 3., 40 and 41 to negative conductor 42. l\clember 2 is now actuated 'trom its biased position to disengage contact members 6 and 8, again interrupting a circuit tor the Olii sequence coil previously traced.

vOontact member 11 nieves upwardly, interlocking with men'iber 2, as previously described. During the engagement ot contact members 64, 65 and 66, a shunt circuit is established, extending from conductor 32 through contact members 33, 34 and 35, conductor 36, contact members 66, 64 and 65, conductors 67, 63 and 54, Oll coil, conductor 55, interlock 50, conductor 38 and contact members 39, 49 and 41 to negative conductor 42. The Otl' coil is not (le-energized until the sequence controller has been actuated substantially to position c, disengaging contact members 64 and 65.

The sequence controller may be advanced to position (l by again momentarily actuatiing` the push button .29. It will be noted that, when the sequence controller is advanced one step tor each operation of the push-button switch there is, of course, a predeternfiined time interval between the steps determined by the pneumatica]ly-operated actimting n'iechanism. The motor is accelerated in the manner previously described and at a predetermined sate rate, in cases of emergency, independently ot the currentlimiting device.

Upon returning the master controller 27 to its Ott position, the main circuit is interrupted by the opening ot line contactor 23, and the sequence controller is returned to its initial position since the On and Ott coils are cle-energized upon the opening of the line contactor.

The relay, as described, provides for simple and eliective means for manual control of the acceleration of a motor in case of emergency. It is not possible to actuate the sequence controller more than one step at a time since the relay cannot be restored to its initial condition except upon release of the push-but-ton switch and the progression of the sequence drum to the next successive position. Actua-tion of the sequence controller and the rate of acceleration of the motor is fixed by the pneumatically operated mechanism in conjunction With the manual control of the push button.

I claim as my invention zl. rl`he combination with a plurality of pairs of relatively movable contact members, two of said Contact members being simultaneously movable, of means for selec tively effecting the engagement of one or a plurality of said pairs of contact members and electro-responsive means for effecting the disengagement of all the said pairs of contact members.

2. The combination with a plurality of pairs of relatively movable contact members, two of said contact memibers being simultaneously movable, of electro-respon sive means for selectively effecting the engagement of one or a plurality of said pairs of contact members and electro-responsive means for effecting the disengage ment of all the said pairs of contact members.

3. The combination with a plurality of pairs of relatively miovable contact members, tivo of said contact members being` mechanically connected and one of said pairs of contact members being normally in engagement, of electro-responsive means for disen gaging one of said pairs of contacts, and electro-responsive means for effecting the engagement of one of said pairs of contact members, comprising one of said mechanically connected contact members, without effecting the disengagement of said normally-engaged contact members.

4. The combination with a plurality of pairs of relatively movable Contact members, tivo of said contact miembcrs being mechanically connected and one of said pairs of contact members being normally in engagement, of electro-responsive means for effect.- ing the engagement of one of said pairs of contact members, comprising one of said mechanic-ally connected contact members, Without effecting the disengagement of said normally-engaged contact members, and electro-responsive means for effec-ting the disengagement of all the said pairs of contact members.

5. rIhe combination With a pivotally mounted member, and tivo contact members mounted thereon, of a stationary contact member normally in engagement vvith one of said contact members, a movable contact.- nilember for engaging the other of said contact members, and electroaesponsive means for simultaneously effecting the disengagement of all of said contact members.

6. The combination with a pivotally mounted member, and two Contact members mounted thereon, of a stationary contact member normally in engagement with one of said contact members, a movable contact member for engaging the other of said contact members, electro-responsive means for actuating said movable contact member, and electro-responsive means for simultaneously effecting the disengagement of all of said contact members.

T. The combination with two pairs of' coacting contact members and a single movable member for carrying one member of each pair of contact members, of an electromagnet for actuating said movable member to disengage one pair of said contact members, and a second electromagnet for effect ing the engagement of the second pair of contact members when the movable member is in a predetermined position.V

8. The combination with a plurality of pairs of coacting conta-ct members and a single movable member for carrying one member of each of said pairs of contact members, of an electroma-gnet for actuating one of the other contact members into engagement with the coacting contact members carried by said movable member when the latter occupies its normal position, and a second electromagnet for controlling the position of said movable member to control the engagement of both of said pairs of contact members.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this Sth day of February, 192i.

vWALlllilR HERBERT SMITH. 

